Budget

Hello Jim,

WIll you children be attending a public school or a private school?
Public school you would incur the cost of PE uniforms, any sports they join - the fees for that, notebooks and regular school items; senior year you might incur ring, gown, trip, prom.... In a private school you pay for the books and you pay a pretty big tuition. What have you considered public or private?

I am not sure what other people spend on food - however 3 adults in one household about $500/month for my questimate. Booz is inexpensive here - a bottle of rum - $3; its cheaper then water in some cases - Laughing :-). You may want to look at the grocery prices in the Cost Of Living section on this web site - under Moving Guide. To help you get an idea of the price differences between items where you are and here.

You said you had an idea of utilities - these prices and apartment estimates are also avialable on this web site in the Moving Guide - under cost of living and housing. Look there for more information on that.

--Islander

Islander,

I would plan on Public schooling. Although my children are in advanced classes (college entrance) here, I'm sure I could not afford private schooling. Does the public school curriculum prepare adequately for college? As far is food is concerned with two adults and three children then I would guess about $700 per month? I'll check out the moving guide list a little closer to help in this guess.

Jim

Hello Jim,

The reason I asked about the schooling for your children - is that both your 13 and 15 year old would be in junior high and high school and the 9 year old elementary... The Public High School's lost their accreditation last year; which means it is possible that you might take the children out of an environment where they are receiving a fine education and placing them in a school where they might end up behind in the long run. Don't get me wrong there are quite a few teachers that do a very great job, overall however the public education system needs work. Are your intentions to stay here permanently so that the 15 year old for example would graduate from high school here???

If you are very interested in this move, what you might consider is taking a pre-move trip, you by yourself or with your wife and scout things out, go visit the schools your children might attend so that you get a feel for it. Tell the principal you want a tour and to perhaps meet some of the teachers. For your 9 year old there are some good elementary schools here both public and private. The public ones still to some degree are affected by the education department need to shape up things.

Also some of the private schools offer tuition assistance - and discounts for families with multiple children attending -so you might still call them and get more information on tuition and any assistance you might get as well as if there are scholarships your children can be academically tested to qualify for (I believe one of the schools does it that way).

--Islander

Jim: I am a big St Thomas fan, but I would have to agree with Islander, before bringing a family of three school age youngsters here, I would come for a visit- go see the schools, etc. The loss of accreditation was a huge blow to the public school system. There are excellent private schools, however.